A Guide to Lettuce

You put it in sandwiches and salads every day. But if you never venture beyond the four basic types (iceberg, butterhead, leaf, and romaine), you may not know there are hundreds of hybrids — so many that you could eat a different one every day for almost a year. Here's where to start.

Iceberg Lettuce

Iceberg Lettuce

Crisp and hardy (though not as flavorful as other lettuces), iceberg that's unwashed and stored in a plastic bag in the fridge will keep for up to two weeks — twice as long as most other kinds. Look for firm, densely packed heads that are heavy for their size. Cut into wedges and serve the classic steak house way: drizzled with blue cheese dressing.

Butterhead - Boston

Butterhead - Boston

This variety has small, round, loosely formed heads and soft, supple leaves that bruise easily. Boston is a larger and fluffier head than Bibb. Both Boston and Bibb lettuce make perfect cups for cooked ground chicken or shrimp.